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A Collection of Newfoundland Wills(C)Thomas Clift

Will of Thomas Clift
from Newfoundland will books volume 4 pages 302 to 304 probate
year 1884

In re
Thomas Clift deceased.

This is the last will and testament of me Thomas Clift of St. John’s
in the Island of Newfoundland Merchant and I hereby revoke all wills and testamentary
dispositions heretofore made by me.
First I desire that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid
out of my estate-
Second. I bequeath to my wife Lavinia Clift during the term of her
natural life a sum not to exceed Two hundred and forty pounds sterling per annum
to be paid out of my general estate for her maintenance and support -
Third I bequeath to my niece May Emerson in addition to any wages that
may now hereafter be due her the sum of one hundred pounds currency.
Fourth- I bequeath the following sums of money namely: To my brothers
as follows. Theodore Clift one hundred pounds Alexander
Clift twenty five pounds
and to Henry Clift twenty five pounds- and to Jessie wife of George
Carter I
bequeath the sum of fifty pounds- to Jessie Emerson twenty five pounds to John
R. Hughes twenty five pounds to Robert Mitchell twenty five pounds to John
Brienmy gardener five pounds and to Patrick Fleming ten pounds
Fifth I give devise and bequeath to Robert H. Prowse of St. John’s
Merchant all my right title and interest whatsoever that I now have or may hereafter
have in and to that landed property situate on the south side of Water Street
in the town of St. John’s known as the “waterside premises” and
also the land with the dwelling house thereon and all the household furniture
and effects therein in which I now reside and occupy known as “Clifton” and
also all the Bank stock which I may die possessed of or hereafter may become
entitled to to hold the same in trust nevertheless
for the sole use and benefit of my children and the survivors of them share and
share alike
Sixth I give devise and bequeath to my executors hereinafter named
all the trust residue and remainder of my estate and effects to hold the same
in trust for the sole use and benefit of my said children and the survivors of
them share and share alike- And with such rest
residue and remainder of my estate the majority of my executors may should they
deem it advisable carry on the business of the firm of Clift Wood and Company so
far as my interest therein is concerned for the benefit of my said children and
the survivors of them share and share alike but on no account shall the landed
property effects and Bank Stock mentioned in the fifth clause of this my will
be invested or put into the said business- And
I hereby authorize my said executor Robert H. Prowse to continue with his co-executors
the said business now carried on under the firm of Clift Wood and Company for
a period of five years from the first day of March one thousand eight hundred
and eighty-five and should the said Robert H. Prose at any time during the said
five years wish on behalf of my estate to retire from said firm he is hereby
authorised to do so or to continue my interest in the trade for a further term
of five years if agreeable to his said co-executors.
I hereby appoint the said Robert H. Prowse, Charles N. Clift and Shannon
M. Clift to be the executors of this my last will and testament. In
witness whereof I the said Thomas
Clift have to this my last will and testament
set my hand this 25th day of October Anno Domini one thousand eight
hundred and eighty four. Thomas Clift. Signed
by the said testator and acknowledged by him to be his last will and testament
in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence
and in the presence of each other have hereto subscribed our names as witnesses, J.
Augustus Clift, W. H. Horwood.

Certified correct,D. M. Browning
Registrar

Note: The wills in those will books are NOT actual wills. They are either hand-written copies or in later years typed copies of a, "last will and testament," written or typed by the court clerk, after the death of the testator, when the executor presented them to the court for probate. The court clerk didn't list the signatures at the bottom, he (or she) just put them in the book in whatever order they were in, on the original document, no spacing most of the time, no punctuation and also no paragraphs. The originals were kept by the executor.

We who have typed these wills, have made every effort to include all the errors that were on the microfilm, in order to avoid destroying the integrity of the originals, where ever they may be. However, in some of the very long wills, we have tried to insert paragraphs to make it easier for the researcher to read the document.

Page Contributed by Judy Benson & Ivy F. Benoit

Page Revised by Ivy F. Benoit (Wednesday February 20, 2013)

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